Rant rant rant...
This is the main problem I have with reptile shows. The show promoter
has made an effort to reduce that by hiring a vet to inspect the animals at
most of the shows. However, the vets don't catch all the problems,
especiall yin chameleons, which take an experienced eye to diagnose. It's
not always possible for the promoter to inspect all the vendors, and ask
some animals to be removed.
Unfortunatly, people like you are part of the problem. You mean well,
and you know you can save the poor animal from a certain death.
Knowing that there will be either ignorant novices, or compassionate
rescuers attendig the show, some, less scrupulous (or more desparate)
vendors will take otherwise unsellable animals to the shows, in hopes of
cutting their losses.
Now, in no way is this a dig or attack at you - it just comes across as
being negative because I'm not talking to you face to face!
Personally, I am disgusted when a vendor does that. I've been working at
tony's shows, on and off, for just about 10 years. I have goen to him with
my concerns about the health of the animals, and he has done some pretty
good things about it.
Still, I see, at the shows, animals offered for sale, on display, that should
simply not be. I did not see your tegu, but I did see a very sickly and
emaciated monitor lizard, as well as some "about to die" chameleons. In
fact, I was most upset at some otherwise healthy looking veiled
chameleons. They were suffering from shedding problems and had many
toenails torn out or damaged. They are all captive bred, which means that
the injuries are a result of neglect or abuse, not importation.
I alerted to some problems, and he asked the vendors to remove the
animals. If I were the promoter, I woudl be insulted by a vendor
attempting to use my show as a means to sell, to non-suspecting
customers, (who paid good money to come to MY show) animals that are
not healthy, not clean, mistreated, ort simply GOING TO DIE. I work for
Tony at the shows mainly for the experience and networking. Every sick
and emaciated animal in public display, offerd for sale, at a show which I
work at, makes me feel like *I* look bad for enabling it, even the
slightest.
Of course, a lizard with missing toes and obvious pelvis and ribs is a
no-brainer. Chameleons, with cryptic signs of illness are tough, and are
often sold well past the "point of no return". My specialty is chameleons,
and I find the treatemnt they recieve by most vendors to be terrible. It
seems as if most of them understand them to be throw away aniamls,
which will die no matter what they do. So, they keep them, thowing
crickets to them, misting the occationally, and try to sell them before they
die. I have seen some vendors with fresh imports that look great. Good
color, good eyes, good weight, etc. The next show I go to, if the same
animals are unsold ( I remember them), they are often noticably worse
off. It bothers me that vendors will be willing to sell chameleons, but are
not willing to make modest changes to their care to keep the animals
healthy.
The difference between vendors is amazing. If the vendor takes the time
to really water them, like shower them daily - especially on arrival - the
animals will have a much better chance at long term survival. they will
also sell much faster and have fewer problems.
A thing I do not understand, is how a vendor can sell animals that are like
that. Really, I saw a horribly sickly skinny lizard, in a nice, very clean
display, at a nice, reputable vendor's table. All their other animals were
great - some of the best at the show - yet this one was just there, and
ruined their display for me until it was gone.
I dont' know if they all realize how much it hurts their reputations(and that
of a show) when they display a sick animal. Word gets around among
reptile circles.
It's so bad for chameleons, most of the people I deal with online refuse to
attend shows, for they will see esentially nothing but sick and dying
chameleons being bought by ignorant people, being misinformed by
ignorant (or maybe inconsiderate) vendors.
Very few vendors selling chameleons take care of their animals to a
degree I would consider buying from them.
Basically, if the majority of the chameleons you get do not do better the
longer they are in your care, you are not one of them.
Overall, this show had very few sick animals that I noticed. I did not look
around much, as normally I work security overnight, and get to inspect
every single animal close up (I'm a nitpicker, too). I didn't stay there this
time. On display during the show hours, I saw a few very sick imported
chameleons from a few vendors, a sick monitor, a few sick geckos, some
skinny bearded dragons, and an underweight blue tongued skink. Also, a
really skinny tree frog. not too bad, actually.
Sometimes, they can be much worse.
On the other extreme, you have captive bred only shows. Best case you
get nothing but veiled chameleons leopard geckos and beardeds holding up
the lizard end, and ball pythons, corns and kingsnakes representing the
snakes...and that's about 80% of the makeup of the show.
Worst case, you get a good variety, but most is mislabeled as CB, when
it's an import.
I do not like cb only shows all the time, as you need wc stock for
improving your bloodlines, and establishing new species in captivity.
however, vendors must be held to a higher standard.
I hope that tegu does well, and I hope they gave you a break on the price,
too.
Eric A
